Photos

2012 HSMF Concerts held at the Kirk

The Kirk was pleased to be chosen as the venue for two concerts sponsored by the Hot Springs Music Festival as part of their 2012 summer program.

On May 31 the 65-member Hot Springs Music Festival’s chorus, under the direction of Todd Cranson, sang the beautiful music of the Requiem, accompanied by Lynn Payette on the organ. The auditioned, volunteer chorus practices weekly during the school year. Its main function is to sing a large choral work with an orchestra for the Festival. Payette, who had been working on the music with the chorus since January, said she was so pleased to perform it on the Kirk’s “first rate organ.”

Two hundred Kirk members and visitors sat spellbound by the Cassatt String Quartet’s presentation June 10. The internationally-acclaimed Manhattan-based group have performed throughout North America, Europe and the Far East and are Mentor Ensemble in Residence for this year’s Hot Springs Music Festival. Renowned pianist Michael Gurt joined the ensemble to lend his expertise on the keyboard. Performers are (l-r) Jennifer Leshnower, second violin; Michiko Oshima, viola; Muneko Otani, first violin; Michael Gurt, pianist, and Nicole Johnson, cello.